Marumo Gallants 0-0 Orlando Pirates: Blunt Bucs continue winless run
Dlamini was one of the Buccaneers’ better players, but the attacker could not find the back of the net at Peter Mokaba Stadium
Orlando Pirates extended their winless run to three matches in the 2021/22 season after drawing 0-0 with Marumo Gallants in the PSL encounter on Tuesday evening.
Coach Sebastien Migne adopted a cautious approach with Junior Sede Dion leading the attack as a lone striker with Gallants hoping to secure their first-ever win in the top-flight league.
On the other hand, co-coaches Fadlu Davids and Mandla Ncikazi recalled Vincent Pule and Nkanyiso Zungu to the starting line-up as Pirates looked to record their maiden win of the current term.
Pirates started the match brightly with most of their attacks coming from the left flank where Pule and Frank Mhango were operating for the Soweto giants.
Goodman Mosele played a long ball for Mhango, who cut inside from the left and forced goalkeeper Washington Arubi into a fine low save with the Buccaneers searching for an early goal.
Mosele, who had been named Man of the Match after Bucs’ 2-2 draw with Stellenbosch FC on Saturday, was a busy man in the middle of the park – spreading some nice forward passes and one of them found Kabelo Dlamini, whose shot went narrowly wide of the target.
Most of Gallants’ attacks were coming from the flanks with keeper Richard Ofori forced to come out and punch two dangerous crosses from wingers Mpho Mvelase and Thabo Mnyamane.
With Bahlabane Ba Ntwa’s defence looking solid and compact, Mosele looked to play balls in behind the hosts’ backline, but they were either cleared away or Bucs attackers were ruled offside and the score was 0-0 at half-time.
Pirates saw most of the ball after the restart with Zungu pulling the trigger from range and his rasping shot went inches wide of the upright, before Arubi punched away Deon Hotto’s curling free-kick.
The hosts were awarded a corner-kick following a rare attack by Migne’s men and an unmarked Collin Ngema hit the upright from the blind spot with Bucs’ poor marking being exposed.
The introduction of Tebogo Tlolane reignited the visitors’ confidence in the final third which saw Dlamini play a through pass for Hotto, but he was superbly denied by Arubi, who was keen to keep a clean sheet after conceding twice in Gallants’ 2-0 loss to Baroka FC on Saturday.
This served as a wake-up call for Gallants’ defence and then hosts stood firm at the back in the closing proceedings of the match with Lehlohonolo Nonyane and Ayanda Nkili making some important clearances and interceptions in the box.
Ultimately, the first-ever meeting between Gallants and Pirates ended in a 0-0 draw on the night
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